Ship docked at port, China retains mum on extending monetary help to debt-ridden Sri Lanka

China on Tuesday docked its monitoring and satellite tv for pc assist vessel Yuan Wang 5 at Sri Lanka’s strategic southern port of Hambantota. The arrival of the ship, which was earlier deferred by the Sri Lankan authorities over alleged considerations raised by India, led to speculations of China extending monetary help to debt-strapped Sri Lanka.

However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin parried questions by the media over extending monetary assist to Sri Lanka, which went bankrupt after defaulting on USD 51 billion in international debt — the vast majority of which was from China.

Replying to a query about whether or not China is contemplating offering the much-needed monetary help to Sri Lanka contemplating its dying financial system, Wang mentioned, “As we have stressed many times, as Sri Lanka’s friendly neighbour, China feels deeply for the economic and social difficulties facing Sri Lanka at the moment”.

“China has been doing its utmost to support and help Sri Lanka pull through the difficulties. This is what we have been doing and what we will continue to do,” PTI quoted him as saying.

China is the principle creditor of Sri Lanka and has invested closely within the nation’s infrastructure.

While China has claimed to offer USD 73 million in help and shipments of rice to the nation, it has maintained a gentle silence on Colombo’s request for a bailout package deal.

In 2017, Sri Lanka leased the Hambantota Port to China Merchant Port Holdings for 99 years after Colombo was unable to maintain its mortgage compensation commitments. The port has been developed largely with Chinese loans.

DOCKING OF SHIP DOESN’T AFFECT ANY COUNTRY: CHINA

China has reiterated its stand that the docking of its ‘high-tech analysis vessel’ Yuan Wang 5 at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port won’t have an effect on the safety of any nation. In an obvious jibe at India, China mentioned that such a transfer shouldn’t be “obstructed” by any “third party”.

On Tuesday, Yuan Wang 5 docked at Sri Lanka’s strategic southern port of Hambantota regardless of considerations raised by India and the United States. The arrival of the ship, which was scheduled for August 11-17, was deferred by the Sri Lankan authorities after India allegedly raised objections. Sri Lanka later granted the Chinese vessel to berth at its port and it’ll not keep in Lankan waters from August 16-22.

Also Read | Why docking of Chinese spy vessel Yuan Wang 5 at Sri Lanka port is harmful for India

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin mentioned the actions of its high-tech analysis vessel won’t have an effect on the safety of any nation.

“They do not affect the security and economic interests of any country and should not be obstructed by any third party,” PTI quoted Wang as saying.

“I want to stress again that the marine scientific research activities of the Yuan Wang-5 ship are consistent with international law and international customary practice,” he added.

India is anxious that the ship’s monitoring methods would try and eavesdrop on its safety installations within the peninsula. The US’s Defence Department has additionally mentioned that the ship is underneath the command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and may very well be used to trace satellite tv for pc and missile launches.

(With inputs from PTI)

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